HAPPENING NOW:
Lyme disease victim gives warning
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Public health officials are warning people that lyme disease is spreading across Canada and the U.S. But while the warnings are out there, one 22-year old Caledonia woman says doctors in our country aren’t equipped or experienced enough to treat people suffering with the serious disease. This is the time of the year when people are most at risk — and Shelby MacNeil says everyone should take the warning very seriously.
Shelby MacNeil doesn’t appear sick on the outside: “But inside I’m dying slowly each day.”
The Caledonia resident has been tested for lyme disease by both Canadian and U.S. health professionals. She says the tests in the U.S. more accurately confirm she is a victim of lyme disease. She’s seen doctor after doctor here in Ontario to be told they don’t really know what is wrong with her: “I’m 22 years old. I should be out living my life.”
But instead Shelby is bed ridden. She can barely walk to go downstairs to eat supper with her family. Lyme disease makes her feel extremly tired. She has extreme sensitivity to light so she has to wear sunglasses. She has ringing in her ears, muscle and joint pain and seizures. There is no cure. The only person who’s been able to help her is a naturopath in St. Catharines.
Right now, the MacNeils are spending 800 dollars a week on IV Treatments and that doesn’t include herbal supplements and vitamins.
Paula is Shelby’s mother: “As a mother of a once healthy child — it’s difficult to see her like this.”
Shelby’s mother paula says Canada needs to update it’s process of testing and treatment of lyme disease: “I’ve emailed the MPP’s, the public health department, emailed the health minister and no one’s got back to me.”
Health Canada says people get lyme disease from the bite of a black legged tick. It admits it’s hard to diagnose. People show signs differently. Shelby never got the bulls eye rash commonly linked to lyme disease 2 years ago when the symptoms first appeared.
“It’s real, it’s horrible, it’s a nightmare.”
Fundraiser details:
When: June 6, 8 p.m.
Where: Kinsmen Hall (15 Thorburn St.), Cayuga
